After being two factors from defeat of their opening match on the Abierto Mexicano Telcel presentado por HSBC, Alexander Erler and Lucas Miedler completed the week with one other dramatic win to say the doubles title in Acapulco. It is the third ATP Tour title for the group and their first exterior of their native Austria.
The Austrians edged Americans Nathaniel Lammons and Jackson Withrow 7-6(9), 7-6(3) in Saturday’s closing, saving six set factors within the opening set and one other within the second.
“It feels great,” stated the 26-year-old Miedler. “After winning both titles in Austria, that was our next goal, to win one somewhere else. Mexico will always be in our hearts.”
After lacking out on a set level at 5-4 within the first set, Erler/Miedler erased a 2/6 deficit within the tie-break and fought off two additional set factors at 8/9 earlier than claiming the set. They denied Lammons/Withrow because the Americans tried to serve out the second set at 5-4, saving a set level at 40/40, and by no means trailed within the second tie-break.
With the victory, the Austrians prolonged their excellent file in ATP Tour finals to 3-0. They improved to 20-13 general and 9-6 on the 2023 season.
“We are really happy. It was a great week,” stated Erler, 25. “We’re improving on and off the court. It feels really special and we hope to come back next year.”
One for the recollections 🏆
Erler and Miedler pose with their trophies in sombreros!@abiertotelcel #AMT2023 pic.twitter.com/TFTB8p02eI
— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) March 5, 2023
To attain the Acapulco closing, the unseeded champions upset third seeds Jamie Murray and Michael Venus within the first spherical and high seeds Wesley Koolhof and Neal Skupski within the semis, each in Match Tie-breaks. The pair, which ended the 2022 season at No. 36 within the Pepperstone ATP Doubles Teams Rankings, gained its earlier titles on house soil Kitzbuhel (2021) and Vienna (2022).
Both Erler and Miedler moved up 14 spots this week within the Pepperstone ATP Doubles Live Rankings, to No. 42 and No. 43, respectively. Both males are set for brand new profession highs on Monday within the Pepperstone ATP Doubles Rankings.
Asked about their biggest power as a group, Erler spoke in regards to the pair’s complementary video games and personalities.
“We are completely different on and off the court,” he stated. “I think everybody who knows us knows that we are two [different] types of people but that obviously fits very good together. Probably that’s our best strength, that if we have some weaknesses the other guy can cover it.”
Lammons/Withrow fell to 1-4 in finals as a group, having gained the 2022 San Diego title on house soil. The 29-year-olds ended final season at No. 32 within the Pepperstone ATP Doubles Rankings.
Source web site: www.atptour.com
